KINSHASA, 3 July, 2021 (TON): Following the recent attack that took 9 lives at least, the United States Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo Mike Hammer visited Beni.

A military spokesman said, some of the victims were killed in their homes while others were taken to the centre of the neighborhood before being shot and beaten with machetes or pieces of concrete.

Mike Hammer said on the situation, "It's a very complicated situation. There is no easy solution. It will be an issue that will take some time (to solve), but if the efforts are there, with good coordination and all together - as I said - the Congolese government, the security and intelligence authorities with Monusco (the UN Mission in the DRC), with the support of other countries and the international community, it is possible to improve the situation and that's what we want."

The attack follows explosions on Sunday that hit a Catholic church and a market in Beni. Four people were injured in the blasts, claimed by a regional offshoot of the Islamic State.

However, local residents have since taken to the streets in protest of the violence -- carrying the body of one of the victims as they marched to the town hall to demand that the police and military provide better protection to the civilian population.